Crochet Basics // Circle in a Hexagon

Okay, I admit not having made anything significant with this pattern... but I think it would make an amazing afghan, it's so pretty...
Put it on the to do list....

I used 4 ply merino and a 4mm hook.
This (and all my patterns) is using UK terms...



This pattern uses a "bobble" stitch for the 2nd. If you're not familiar with it, don't worry, if you can treble you'll get it pretty quickly... It goes like this: Yarn over, hook through stitch to pull yarn through (3 loops on hook), pull yarn through 2 loops (2 loops remain on hook). Yarn over, put hook back through the same stitch and pull yarn through (4 loops on  hook), pull yarn through 2 (3 loops remain on hook), pull yarn through remaining 2 stitches... It's a bit like getting halfway through a treble and deciding you're going to start another one, joining the 2 "trebles" into one stitch at the end. This gives a nice oval shape.

Okay getting started....

Chain 4 and join to create a ring. I used a lovely deep red...

First round (trebles):
Chain 3 (your first treble), then treble 11 into the ring. Slip stitch to join to the 3rd chain of your first chain 3 you made.

2nd round (bobbles):  
I switched to dark pink here.
Chain 2, then treble 1 into the same stitch (equivalent to 1st bobble), chain 1. *bobble 1, chain 1* 11 times to complete the round, then slip stitch to join into the top of the first treble you made.

3rd round (trebles):
I switched to off white. This round will work the spaces. 
Slip stitch into your next chain space. Chain 3 (counts as 1st treble), treble 2 into the first space, chain 1. *Treble 3, chain 1* 11 more times to complete the round, then slip stitch to join into the 3rd chain of the first chain 3 you made.

Your circle is completed... now to turn it into a hexagon.

4th round (chains):
I switched to pale pink. This round will work the spaces.
*Slip stitch into your next chain space, chain 5 (corner), slip stitch into the next space, chain 3 (side)*, repeating this 5 times, join at your first slip stitch.
This has created a foundation for the 5th round...

5th round (trebles):
Slip stitch into your next space (which will be the first 5 chain space you made on the last round), chain 3 (1st treble) and treble 3, chain 2, treble 4 all into this space. This is your first corner. Treble 4 into the next space (side). *Treble 4 into the next space, then chain 2 and treble 4 into the same space, treble 4 into the next space* and repeat 4 more times to complete the round. Then slip stitch into the 3rd chain of the first chain 3 you made to join off.
NB using 4 trebles in each space, makes a nice thick border for this pattern, but you could use 3s, if you want a more "open" pattern, replacing the extra trebles with chain stitches...

If you make something fun with this pattern, please let me know... and if you're putting it on your own site, please credit it back to me :) thanks!